Colorectal Cancer(CRC) Screenings Mandate-Part I

Cancer is a fatal disease for mankind all over the world. Cancer is of various types, one of them is colorectal/colon cancer. Colorectal cancer is a cancer that starts in the colon or the rectum. These cancers can also be named colon cancer or rectal cancer, depending on where they start. Colon cancer and rectal cancer are often grouped together because they have many features in common. Colon cancer and rectal cancer make up colorectal cancer (CRC).

As per American Cancer Society, colorectal cancer is the third leading cause of cancer-related deaths in the United States when men and women are considered separately, and the second leading cause when both sexes are combined.

Earlier people's  thinking was that where there was cancer, there was no answer. But with the great advancement of medical science, there are many answers now . One of them is screening of cancer in earlier stage. Screening is the process of looking for cancer or pre-cancer in people who have no symptoms of the disease. There are different types of screening tests for colorectal cancer which help to detect colon or rectal cancer in earlier stage. Tests used to screen for colorectal cancer include:

Ø  Guaiac-based fecal occult blood test (gFOBT) and fecal immunochemical test (FIT)

Ø  Stool DNA test or Cologuard

Ø  Sigmoidoscopy

Ø  Colonoscopy

Ø  Double-contrast barium enema

Ø  Computed Tomographic Colonography(CTC) or Virtual Colonoscopy.

In order to comply with Affordable Care Act(ACA), health insurance companies will have to include Computed Tomographic Colonography(CTC) and Cologuard testing in their different health plans. The U.S. Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF) has Grade A recommendation for Computed Tomographic Colonography(CTC) and Cologuard screening test. The USPSTF made this recommendation on June 15, 2016. Grade A recommendation of USPSTF means that the net benefit for health insurance policy holders is substantial.

CT Colonography or Virtual Colonoscopy:

CT Colonography is a method to examine the inside of the colon by taking a series of x-rays. A computer is used to make 2-dimensional (2-D) and 3-D pictures of the colon from these x-rays. The pictures can be saved, changed to give better viewing angles, and reviewed after the procedure, even years later. 

CT Colonography is noninvasive colorectal cancer screening used as an alternative to colonoscopy for individuals showing no signs or symptoms and no previous concerning medical history. It is noninvasive that means the testing does not require inserting an instrument through the skin or into a body opening.

Computed Tomographic (CT) Colonography is also called virtual colonoscopy (VC). Because it replaces conventional colonoscopy that requires passage of an endoscope through the rectum to the large bowels.

 Cologuard:

Cologuard is a colon cancer screening test based on the latest advances in stool DNA science. Cologuard tests for blood in the stool. Like CT Colonography, Cologuard is noninvasive colorectal cancer screening used as an alternative to colonoscopy for individuals showing no signs or symptoms and no previous concerning medical history.